124 THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



member, so swollen he had to cut the boot off. After a night of 

 pain and fever, a cupfvil of blood and matter came away, and it was 

 several days before he could wear anything but a slipper. A year 

 later the place swelled up again, became painful, and discharged 

 matter. Ferguson also mentions having met a hillman with a 

 •withered right arm which he (the native) attributed to a bite from 

 this reptile. 



Uncertainty of the effects of Snake-bite. 



The effects of snake-bite are most uncertain as will be seen from 

 a few examples quoted below. 



Snake literature is simply full of parallel examples. The evidence 

 is so conflicting that those who study the question sooner or later 

 abandon the attempt to make inductions from snake-bite records. 

 They are obviously too illusory. The only satisfactory knowledge 

 we have acquired, and are likely still further to acquire, is derived 

 from direct experiment in animals where a known dose of venom is 

 injected by the agency of a hypodermic syringe. The evidence 

 from such experiments carefully conducted is incontrovertible. 



There is one consolation to be derived from records such as those 

 I give, viz., one need never lose hope in a case of snake-bite, or even 

 «nake-poisoning. Many serious cases undoubtedly recover without 

 any treatment. 



ILLUSTRATIVE CASES. 



(1) Elliot' records the following: (1) Elliot' again records : 



" I myself saw a large powerful " Eight days later the same animal 

 Daboia (3 feet 8 inches long) strike was fairly struck by a vicious Daboia 

 fairly at a dog, hold it, shake it, and (S feet 4 inches long), the bite being 

 only let go, when the dog had fled almost instantaneous in its short- 

 jelping several yards dragging the ness, and this time the victim died 

 snake along the ground. The part in less than three hours." 

 Tiitten was soft, and fleshy, the bite 

 was apparently a fair one, the 

 •glands of the snake, when dissected, 

 though emptier than usual, both 

 proved to contain poison. From one 

 gland alone I obtained more poison 



1 Trans., South Ind. Branch Brit. Med. Asscn. 1895, pag'es 7 & 36. 



